NHTSA Complaint #11014979 — 2003 HONDA PILOT

WE WERE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT ~65 MPH, FULLY LOADED FOR A WEEK-LONG CAMPING TRIP, AND HIT A LARGE POTHOLE. THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY OF MY HONDA PILOT BROKE SO THAT IT WAS ONLY PARTIALLY ATTACHED TO THE FRAME BECAUSE THE FRAME OF THE CAR RUSTED THROUGH. THE 2 BACK BOLTS WERE STILL IN PLACE, BUT THE FRAME ITSELF WAS CRUMBLING APART; THE 2 FRONT BOLTS WERE THE ONLY THINGS HOLDING THE REAR WHEEL AND AXLE TO THE CAR. THE PHOTO SHOWS THE STEEP ANGLE OF THE WHEELS, AND HOW LOW TO THE GROUND THE BACK OF THE CAR WAS. I DROVE THE CAR TO OUR MECHANIC, THEY PUT IT UP ON THE LIFT, AND THEN SHOWED US. THEY TOLD US IT WAS UNFIXABLE. THE CAR IS 14 YEARS OLD AND OTHERWISE IN GOOD SHAPE. IT HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE (I HAVE 9 YEARS OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS). THE MECHANIC HAD DONE BRAKE WORK 3 DAYS PRIOR, AND I HAD GOTTEN THE TIRES ROTATED THE PREVIOUS WEEK. NONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THE CAR NOTICED OR SAID ANYTHING WAS MAJORLY WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE WERE LUCKY WE DIDN'T HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR BROKE ON THE HIGHWAY.